Pakistan: Kitchen gardens flourish in Lahore
Encouraged by agricultural department, more and more citizens turn to growing their own produce
By Asif Mehmood
Express Tribune
November 14, 2021
Excerpt:
At the moment, Majeed’s rooftop garden has peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, spinach, lemons, onions, radishes, beets, a variety of salads, and coriander. While they plan to plant bells on the roof and cultivate other vegetables, including pumpkins, eggplants, apple gourd, and bitter gourds. “The seeds of these vegetables are easily obtainable. However, the main task is to provide timely watering and maintenance,” said the elderly man, who spends much of his free time tending to this plants and produce.
Like Majeed, his 11-year old daughter Faiqa, too has inherited her father’s green thumb, and helps with taking care of the family’s roof garden. Times when Majeed is out of the city, she waters the plants and vegetables. “My daughter calls the plants her friends, which I find beautiful. Sometimes our neighbours come over to ask for a lemon or some coriander leaves when they run out, and it always brings us great joy to be able to share our produce,” told Majeed.